I started by cutting the shaft at 30 inches, two inches longer than my draw, and it hit my target tail right -- too stiff. I knew if I added weight to the front of my arrow, it would weaken the spine, because it causes the arrow to flex more as it is thrust from the bow. I removed the point and insert, screwed a 50-grain weight to the back of my insert, shoved it back into the arrow, and shot it again. It was better, but still struck the bale tail right.

Using another uncut shaft, I found that my arrow would strike the target dead-on with perfect alignment if I kept it 34 inches long, but I knew everyone watching Bowhunter Magazine TV would question why I was shooting such a long arrow, so I needed a better solution.

I knew from previous experience that I could gain 10 feet per second from my bow by switching from a Dacron string to a Phase 1 string, so I called Cordoza Creations and ordered the string. The string is somewhat like Fast Flight, but it isn't as hard on your bow. Once it arrived, I built a Flemish twist string, stretched it in, twisted it to the right length, and found that the extra speed allowed me to shoot a 28-inch bare shaft into my target and that it would strike with perfect alignment -- my arrow was tuned to my bow.

To get the arrows to reach my desired weight, I added weight tubes to the arrows. Each tube weighed three grains per inch. After using epoxy to glue in inserts, and after dipping, cresting, and fletching my arrows, I was surprised to discover they weighed 597 grains. I was completely satisfied that I had accomplished my goal of obtaining excellent arrow flight and reaching desired arrow weight.

While in Africa, I was pleased with the way my Carbon Express arrows and Hoyt recurve performed. I harvested six animals with this setup, and in several cases, I used the same arrow to take two or more animals. Naturally, I inserted new replacement blades in my Rocky Mtn. Ti-125 broadheads before shooting each animal. In fact, I took the black wildebeest mentioned in the beginning of my story with the same arrow that I'd used to take a blesbok ram the previous evening.

Author's Notes:

I called 3 Rivers Archery (1-866-732-8783, www.3riversarchery.com) to get 50-grain weights, paint, glue, and cresting materials to create desired arrow weight and to tune my arrows to my bow. I also used some of their products to make my bow shoot quietly.

I used string from Cordoza Creations to build my string for greater speed. (You can also purchase ready-made strings, compound cables, etc. from them.) Contact: Cordoza Creations, Inc., PO Box 1187, Durham, CA 95938; 530-533-8692; kbh6@aol.com.